So I'm looking to buy a Wrangler, most likely a TJ. I'm having a debate with my father and my boyfriend. My Dad thinks I should trade in my truck (2005 Dodge Ram 1500) on a jeep and drive it fulltime and also off-road it. My boyfriend thinks this is a bad idea and that I should buy a jeep as my second vehicle so that if I'm on a trail and it breaks I won't be out a vehicle (simply trailer the jeep and tow it home with the truck).

So my question is so those people who drive and off-raod their vehicles or have done so. Is it easier having just one vehicle, or does it make more sense to have a Wrangler as a side vehicle?

So my question is so those people who drive and off-raod their vehicles or have done so. Is it easier having just one vehicle, or does it make more sense to have a Wrangler as a side vehicle?

Personally, I feel the true path to happiness in life is multiple vehicle ownership. This is part of the reason why I currently own five vehicles.

As for a Jeep that sees heavy use off road, it does make sense to own at least one backup vehicle just in case. I love wrenching on my own cars, but I have learned something over the years: while modifying your Jeep to make it more capable is very enjoyable, wrenching on a car late at night in the dark (or in the rain/snow/cold) just so you can get to work in the morning really sucks.

I really think it is worth having more than one vehicle. The harder you wheel, the more this applies. So I'd say you are better off buying an older (read: cheaper) TJ and keeping your truck than you are trading your truck for a newer TJ and owning only that.

Agreed i had my jeep only for awhile and always had the little voice in my head reminding me i need to not only be able to drive this home, but to school, and work lol. So i bought a suburban and still had the YJ. Sold the YJ got a 02 954rr and sold the suburban and now have the 97 TJ in my profile pic. So it can be done however its much much easier to have a second form of transportation just in case. Although mine is a motorcycle and still only permits me to ride it on nice days lol. Just tell your boyfriend you'll take him offroading but if it breaks he drives you for the time being lol.

I'd personally get a cheaper jeep and keep the truck. No stress if something does break, just wait and pay for it when you can afford it. If the jeep is your DD and something breaks, you're in trouble.

As a person who just bought a jeep in the last year and has started to wheel it, I suggest keeping the ram (I have one as well) and getting a jeep as a second vehicle. Just like everyone else says, it really sucks calling your boss and telling them you cant come to work because you went four wheeling and your jeep is broken, which happens often if you do anything that is worth the jeep you drive.

I brought my jeep as my daily driver cause I own a other car that really isn't reliable like my jeep is. I'm one that like having more then one car incase something happens and time and time again always comes in handy! Now if your buying a wrangler to go wheeling hard then keep I'd truck if your buying to do some light wheeling I'm sure you will be mine but anything can happen! I do some trail driving with my jeep I try not to do anything extreme since at the end of the day it's my reliable ride. In case anything happens I still own other car to drive in the mean time but seriously good to always have more then one car! If you can afford it have both!!!

In the past I only had one vehicle and I was always always always wrenching on it. Luckily I had good friends and family who would drive me or let me borrow their car when mine was being modded. It does get old asking for rides after awhile and nobody wants to be that guy. I purchased a motorcycle a few months ago so now I have a backup, sorta. Honestly I'm on two wheels most of the time unless it rains or snows! I say get the Jeep and drive it for a while and figure out what kind of trails you will be running. A little down the rode you can buy a second vehicle if you feel the need. I love having a vehicle that is down for any occasion so I still only have one "car" but I'm not afraid to have it out of commision for a few days if need be.

Thank you so much for your responses! Although I still feel confused about what I want to do. lol I hadn't had any doubts about my truck being able to tow a jeep... I guess I should find out if that would be an issue... I have dreamed about a jeep for a while but, I can't imagine life without my truck. I can afford both, it might not be easy but I have the money saved up to buy a jeep outright and insurance shouldn't be too bad if I'm not going to drive it around on the road anyway. If any of you are in PA this summer and want to travel to Rausch for a weekend let me know.

May I ask one more question? I'm a reasonably new wheeler (I've only taken the Ram out mudding), so how do you feel about manual vs. automatic on the trails? I do know how to drive stick but, I've never driven a stick full time so I can't say I'm completely confident driving a stick.

i done the same thing trade a 99 ram w/8.0 for my jeep. reason: the ever rising cost of fuel! 9 mpg vs 18 mpg.i still have a truck tho, just in case! on yer 2nd ques.i personally like a stick over auto because of autos heating up and failing sticks for the most part can hold up better. my opinion.

I just got a YJ with a stick. i havent wheeled a stick in about 5 years. its hard but I allready getting used to it on the trails. I'll be sure to hit you up this summer for some RC wheeling. I'm going to be out there a few times wheeling my YJ and a buddies truggy project I know the park and still learning my rig so we'll be doing east stuff.

Another opinion/boy we all got plenty---I think Jerry is probably right and along with mannyssj13------with the price of gas I would dump the truck and get an econo-used box.

And have the TJ for wheeling /DD, but still have a back up vehicle. It is what I do-even though I don't "wheel" my Jeep on a regular basis. It would suck to need to go somewhere, work or whatever, and not be able to go ---so for me it is an old (1997) Buick Le Sabre that will get upper 20's-30mpg and has lots of room. Also good "go get parts" car if the Jeep is torn apart.

May I ask one more question? I'm a reasonably new wheeler, so how do you feel about manual vs. automatic on the trails? I do know how to drive stick but, I've never driven a stick full time so I can't say I'm completely confident driving a stick.

The automatic is much, much easier when you're doing technical four wheeling such as rock crawling. Furthermore, I feel the automatic transmission is much less likely to break driveline components (u-joints, driveshafts, etc) since its torque converter can absorb torque spikes that a manual transmission cannot avoid.

Thank you so much for your responses! Although I still feel confused about what I want to do. lol I hadn't had any doubts about my truck being able to tow a jeep... I guess I should find out if that would be an issue... I have dreamed about a jeep for a while but, I can't imagine life without my truck. I can afford both, it might not be easy but I have the money saved up to buy a jeep outright and insurance shouldn't be too bad if I'm not going to drive it around on the road anyway. If any of you are in PA this summer and want to travel to Rausch for a weekend let me know.